Filed under: Mac 101
Mac 101: Take screenshot and copy to clipboard
Are you obsessed with taking photos using the built-in screenshot utility (or by pressing command + 3/4)? Chances are you might have a ton of files left over on your desktop after a long screenshot session. If you don't need the files piling up on your desktop and just want to paste a picture somewhere, pressing Control + Command + Shift + 3 for a full screenshot (or 4 for cross hair selection tool).
The screenshots will be copied to the clipboard where you can paste them into a document.
Want more tips and tricks like this? Visit TUAW's Mac 101 section today!
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Joe said 10:44AM on 10-06-2008
...and of course, if you do Control + Command + Shift + 4 and then hit the space bar, you can screenshot individual windows.
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Josh said 10:56AM on 10-06-2008
This is a good tip. Never knew that. I doubt it will have any real uses for me in particular but could be good for needing to crop something in Photoshop or something to that effect.
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granata said 10:58AM on 10-06-2008
Wow! This will come in handy on a weekly basis. Thanks!
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Greenbook said 11:05AM on 10-06-2008
That I did not know. Thanks.
By the way, "Are you obsessed with taking photos using the built-in screenshot utility (or by pressing command + 3/4)" should read "Are you obsessed with taking photos using the built-in screenshot utility (or by pressing command + Shift + 3/4)".
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Barron said 2:12PM on 10-06-2008
Thank you! I was wondering how I was failing to follow such simple instructions because it just wasn't working!
brian said 6:23PM on 10-06-2008
I'm still trying to find the three-quarter (3/4) key on my keyboard. I don't even see a one-half key. And don't get me started on the missing right mouse button. :-)
Endrju said 11:07AM on 10-06-2008
Ah, yeah. Control + Command + Shift + 3. That'll stick in my head. I love the KB shortcuts, but the screen shots are still a hard to overcome remnant of my pre-OS X brain.
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tobias said 11:03AM on 10-06-2008
Even better - check out Skitch http://skitch.com/ Awesome little screen shot program. Post to flickr or the skitch site with the click of a button. Annotate screen shots and more. I don't know how I lived w/o it :)
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rauz said 1:01PM on 10-06-2008
Try the free app Skitch (skitch.com) and remove even more steps, it even lets you upload the screenshot to a multitude of services with just one click.
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dandaman said 11:13AM on 10-06-2008
I love it when my iPhone background matches my computer (it's just fun) Is there a way to take a screenshot of the desktop with a certain size?
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JoshK said 11:25AM on 10-06-2008
I recommend everyone change the default keyboard shortcuts for Mac's screenshots, it was the best thing I ever did. Command+Shift+3 is just way to cumbersome for a screenshot (Windows at least has one keystroke for this!). I changed my keyboard screenshots to Option+X and Option+C (like copy and cut) and it has worked out great.
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Rainer Brockerhoff said 11:28AM on 10-06-2008
An important aspect is that the control key is tested only in the instant you release the mouse at the end, so you can decide to copy to the clipboard at the last moment.
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BlogManiac said 12:34PM on 10-06-2008
Actually, you need only press the when you release the button on the mouse after selecting your region :)
So If you wanted to capture an area and suddenly changed your mind and decided to email it, you still have the choice :)
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BlogManiac said 9:01PM on 10-09-2008
Somehow the <ctrl> was missed out - may be the html interpreter ... hmmm - technology and laziness really don't go well together I guess :)
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-wsn said 1:45PM on 10-06-2008
Thanks Cory... as always a useful post. :-)
Cheers
-wsn
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Brad said 2:26PM on 10-06-2008
Anybody know of a good app - to add notes or circles to a screenshot? I'm not interested in firing up Photoshop to highlight a few elements on a screenshot. Is there an app that would do both?
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rauz said 4:26PM on 10-06-2008
Skitch does that very well.
http://img.skitch.com/20081006-ry3eempm4q9hejgye63twcqtca.png
No I'm not affiliated with them, I just like the app.
James said 9:42AM on 10-08-2008
You can also try ImageWell ( http://xtralean.com/IWOverview.html ). It costs $20, but it's much more flexible than Skitch as far as editing goes, though not as "pretty."
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